Stamp applying and affixing machine.



L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 29, I914- Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET I I WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914.

Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29, I914. 1 ,1 88,74? Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WITNESSES:

IN VEN TOR A TTORNE Y.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914. 1 1 747. Patented June 27,1916.

I0 SHEETSSHEET 4- INVENTOR. maker ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES:

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914.

1,188,747. PatentedJune27, 1916. I 10 SHEETS-SHEET 5. I I I I I ,1 I: Il I I I I Q I g l w, I I

& 3 m

IIUU II INVENTOR.

A TTOR NE Y.

I IIVVENTOR.

h I f ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29.1914.

LMJM? Patented June 27,1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

WITNESSES.-

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 29. I914- Patented June 27, 1916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

} INVENTOR. l

III II I ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29.1914. 1388,??? Patented June 27,1916.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WITNESSES: IN VEN TOR. g; jomwficsc7aer ATTORNEY.

L. FISCHER.

STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29,1914.

Y Patented June 27, 1916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 9- w QQN mm QQH WITNESSES.-

A TTORNEY.

L. FISCHER. STAMP APPLYING AND AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-29.1914. 1,1 8%,?4'7. Patented June 27-, 1916.

i0 SHEETS-SHEET I0.

ma N? We wk c m 6 a W WITNESSES:

To all whom it mag/concern [Louis rrsonnn, 0F. rnILnnE LrmA,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR r0 wnrenr, or DURHAM, nonrn oer-tonne.

RICHARD H.

STAMP .err'isrme AND arrrxme MACHINE.

i I Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented June 27, 1916'.

Application filed October 29, 1914. Serial No. 869,315.

\ Be it known that I, LoUIs FIsoHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in StampApplying and Afiixing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for aflixing stamps,such as reve nue stamps, labels and the like, to packages orreceptacles, and the primary objects are to provide a machine of thisclass which is capable of operating rapidly and efficiently to apply thestamps in proper position and securely on the packages and to deliverthe stamped packages in convenient form for packing in boxes or cases.these ends the machine provides a conveyer having holders to receive andhold the packages while the stamps are being applied and 'afiixedthereto, the holders opening to receive the packages, then closing andremaining closed while the stamps are being applied and aflixed, andthen openingto discharge the stamped packages therefrom onto anotherconveyer which latter is provided with brushes or equivalent devices tooperate upon the stamps to secure and maintain adhesion thereof upon thepackages until the paste is dry or substantially so.

The machine also provides a conveyer and coiiperative devices forstacking the stamped pac ages and advancing them to .thepoint where theyare to' be packed in boxes or Furthermore, the presentinvention provldesa dev1ce of an improved constructlon whereby paste is uniformly appliedto the stamps, and a guide cooperative with the gummed stamp as thelatter is fed to the package, thereby insuring application of the stampsin uniformly correct position upon the packages.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainimprovements, and combinations. and arrangements of parts, all as willbe hereinafter more fully described, the novel featuresv being pointedout particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is an elevation of that part ofthe machine which aflixes the stamps to the packages; Fig. 2 1s 1nelevation of the right-hand end thereof; Flg. 3 is a top plan view ofthe machine as shown in Fig. 1, the conveyer and the package holdersbeing omitted; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the conveyer which receivesthe packages from the stamp-affixing mechanism and coiiperating brusheswhich operate upon the stamps to maintain adhesion thereof during theadvancement of the packages; Fig.5 isa top plan view of a portion of thedevice shown in Fig.4; Fig. 6 represents a transverse section on theline 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the device which stacks-the stampedpackages and advances them to the point where they are removed from themachine; Fig. 8 represents a sec- To tion on the'line 88 of Fig.7 Fig. 9represents a transverse vertical section throygh the stamp-affixingmechanism showing in elevation the devices 'for feeding, gumm'ing,

guiding and applying the stamps to the packages; Fig. 10 is a detailview showing in elevation revolving brushes for" afiixing the stamps tothe packages and platens to press upon the tops of the packages and theintermediate portions of the stamps while the ends of the latter. areoperated on by the brushes; Fig-11 is a top plan view of thestamp-affixing mechanism shown in Fig.

'10; Figs. 12 and 13 show in, side elevation and top plan, respectively,means for causing engagement and disengagement of the platens relativelyto the tops of the packages Fig. 14 is a detail view showing in end"elevation fingers for maintaining the ends of the stamps in properposition duringthe transfer of the packages from the stampapplying tothe stamp-afiixing mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 14 and as viewedfrom'the right-hand side thereof; Fig. 16 is a top Figs. 14

plan view of the device shown in and 15; Fig. 17 is a detail endelevation of the paste or gum-applylng device; Fig. 18 represents asection on the l1ne 18-18 of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is a side elevation of thepaste or gum-applying device as viewed from the right in Fig. 17; Figs.20 and 21 are detail views showing in side and end elevation,respectively, a guide for directing the gummed stamps to the packages;Figs.

22, 23 and 24 are detail views of one of the package holders and itscarrier chain or v conveyer, Fig. 22 representing a horizontal section,Fig. 23 a side elevation, and Fig. 24

a transverse section through the conveyer chain and cooperative parts.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in theseveral views.

The present invention provides means for automatically and expeditiouslyapplying gummed strips, such as labels, revenue stamps and the like, topackages, it being especially adapted for use in afiixing revenue stampsto the tops of packages of tobacco.

The preferred construction is shown in the accompanying drawings andwill be hereinafter described in detail, but it is to be understood thatthe invention is not restricted to the precise construction shown, asequivalent constructions within the scope of the annexed claims may beused.

In the present instance the stamp-applying and affixing mechanismcomprises a suitable base 1 having a table or bed 2 on the top thereofand which supports the operative mechanisms. According'to the presentinvention a traveling carrier or conveyer is provided whichlembodies aseries of package holders which are adapted to open to receive thepackages, then close and fold the packages while the stamps are beingapplied and afiixed thereto, and finally opened to permit discharge ofthe packages therefrom. In the present instance an endless travelingchain 3 is provided which passes over sprocket wheels 4: and 5 at orbeyond the respective ends of the table or bed 2, the upper stretch ofthe chain passing over the bed or table 2 while the lower stretch of thechain passes beneath the bed or table. A series of package holders aremounted at suitable intervals along the chain. In the construction showneach package holder'comprises a relatively fixed body ortion 6 which hasan up, standing portion? to form a relatively stationary or non-pivotedside of the package holder, and a base portion 8 which is secured by thepins or rivets 9 to the chain. A piv oted plate or member 10 forms theopposite side of the package holder, said plate or member beingtiltableabout one of the pins or rivets 9 as a center and having a stop 11adapted to coiiperate with an upstanding flange 12 rising from the baseportion 8 of the holder to limit the closing movement of the plate ormember 10, and a projection 13 serving as a stop to cooperate withtheadj acent portion of the base portion 8 of the holder to limit theopening movement of the plate or member 10. An arm 14 proceeds from theplate or member 10 and carries a roller or projection 15 which controlsthe opening and closing thereof as will hereinafter appear. In order tosupport the upper stretch of the conveyer and to thereby insure correctpositioning of the package holders relatively to the stamp-applying andaffixing devices, a pair of rails 16 are mounted on supports 17andextend in parallelism and horizontally across the top of the table orbed 2, and the conveyer cha1n is preferablyprovided with rollers 18which rest and ride upon said rails. A rail 19 is secured in theposition in parallelism with the carrier supporting rails 16 andcooperates with the rollers 15 of the package holders while the latterare in cooperative-relation with the stampapplying and afiixing devices.Normally,

the weight of the plate or member 10 which forms a movable side of thepackage holder is so distributed that it will have a normal.

' and is there formed with a downwardly curved section 21 which isconcentric with the axis of the sprockets 5 toward the outer sides ofthese sprockets and has an inwardly extending portion 22 toward theunder side of these sprockets whereby the package holders will be heldclosed and in gripping engagement with the packages until the latterhave approached an inverted position, whereupon the package holders are.caused to open to discharge the packages therefrom. The inwardlyextending portion 22 of the rail permits opening of the package holders,and to render the opening of the package holders positive a rail or cam23 is preferably provided beneath the section 22 of the main rail, therail or cam 23 operating upon the rollers 15 of the package holders toswing the pivoted sides thereof into open position.

The packages filled with the tobacco or other material may be fed to theholders on the conveyer in any suitable way.= In the present instance 21represents a portion of a carrier for advancing filled and closedpackages, said carrier having pockets 25 in which the packages arecontained, and 26 represents a reciprocatory ejector which is movablesuccessively through the pockets 25 to push the filled and closedpackages out of the pockets 25 through a guide 27 and into the packageholders on the conveyer chain as .the holders are successivelypositioned in alinement with the guide 27. Intermittent movement of thecarrier chain and the package holders thereon at properly timedintervals with respect to the corresponding movements of thecarriero24rand ejector' 26 may be secured in any suitable way, a sprocket Wheel 28being fixed on the shaft of the spl ocket wheels 4 in the presentinstance,

and a chain may be used, as indicated, to impart the'intermlttentmovements to the carrier chain as required. In order to insure openingof the package holders on the carrier chain at or prior to the timethese holders are to receive packages from the carrier 24, a relativelyfixed 'rail or cam 29 is provided and arranged in a position tocooperate with the rollers'15 of the package holders as the latter passaround to the upper side of the sprockets 4, this rail or cam 29terminating in advance of the incline 20 of the rail 19 in order that itwill not interferewith the subsequent closing of the package holders.

The first operation is to feed and apply a stamp to the top of thepackage, this being effected after the holder carrying the package hasbeen advanced to the point where the, package holder has beenclosed bythe engagement of its roller 15 with the rail 19. Any suitable means maybe employed ,for feeding the stamps. In the present instance astamp-feeding mechanism is shown conventionally, it embodying a magazine30 adapted to receive a stack or pile of stamps, and a feeding pad 31which is lifted into engagement with the lowermost stamp in themagazine, thence shifted to the right in Fig. 9 to withdraw the saidstamp with its end projecting through an opening 32, in the bottom ofthe magazine, the feeding pad 31 being then depressed and finallyshifted toward the left while depressed. Such motion is imparted to thefeeding pad by a bellcrank arm 33, one end of which is pivoted at 34 ona horizontal slide 35, and said arm also has a roller or projection 36which travels in a cam groove 37 formed in the face of a cam 38. Theslide 35 is provided above the pivot 34 with a pair of stops 39 and thebell-crank arm 33 is provided above the pivot 34 with a projection 40which is adapted to alternately engage the stops 39 s but has a limitedmovement between such stops. While the projection 40 is travelingbetween the stops 39, the arm 33 pivots about its center 34, therebyraising or lowering the feeding pad 31 as the case may be, and thefurther movement imparted to the arm 33 by the cam groove 37 acting. onthe roller'36 causes the slide 35 to shift bodily, thereby shifting thefeeding pad 31 on its feeding or return stroke. To insure the requisitepressure of the feeding pad 31 on the lowermost strip to obtain thenecessary friction to withdraw the stamp, a weight 41 may be providedwhich is adapted to rest upon the pile of stamps in the magazine whilethe feeding pad 31 is operating to feed a stamp therefrom, and means isprovided for relievdrawn by the feeding pad 31 and during the remainingoperation of withdrawing the stamp. To this end a stem or vertical rod42 is attached to the weight and operates at its upper end through aguide 43 and a clutch bar or member 44 cotiperates with'the stem 42 andis provided at oneend with a fulcrum or stop 45 and at its opposite endwith a vertically movable operating rod 46, the latter having at itslower end a roller 47 which cobperates with a cam 48, rising of the rod46 causing the bar 44 to grip the stem 42 and thus lift the weight anddropping of the rod 46 bringing the bar 44 into approximately horizontalposition where the stop 45 rests upon a support 47 whereupon '80 the bar44 will be unclutched from the stem 42 and the weight 41 is then free todescend and exert its pressure upon the top of the pile of stamps.

Each stamp is completely withdrawn from the magazine after beingpartially withdrawn by the feeding pad 31 by a gripper which comprises apair of jaws 49 and 50 carried by a reciprocatory bar 51, said bar beingpreferably formed with a rack 52 at its under side which rackcoiiperates with an actuating gear 53 fixed to a shaft 54. One of thesejaws, preferably the jaw 49, is

in fixed relation to the bar 51, and the jaw 50 is pivoted thereto atthe point 55 and is provided with an upstanding arm 56 which when thebar 51 is shifted toward the right will come against a relativelystationary projection 57 which will move the jaw 50 into open positionand thereby release the stamp and when the bar 51 is moved toward theleft will come against a stationary projection 58 which will operate toclose the jaw 50 whereby this jaw and the companion jaw 49 will grip theprojecting end of the partially removed stamp, the next movement of thebar 51 toward the right in Fig.

9 completing the withdrawal of the stamp from the magazine and carryingthe stamp into a position above the package whlch is to receive it.Means is provided for yieldingly holding the jaws 49 and 50 closedduring the feeding of the stamp to the package and for maintainingthejaws open until they are in a position to grip the next stamp. In thepresent instance the pivoted jaw 50 has an arm 59 connected thereto and1 this arm carries a spring-pressed pawl 60 which is adapted to engagein one or. another of the notches 61 and 62, thereby retaining thegripper in open and closed condition respectively during the travel ofthe gripper between the projections 57 and 58.

As each stamp is withdrawn from the magazine an adhesive is applied tothe un-, der side thereof. The adhesive or gumapplying device whichappears in Fig. 9 and is shown in detail in Figs. 17, 18 and 19 ismounted on a suitable standard 63 which comprises a casing 64 which isformed at one end with a reservoir 65 to contain a supply of the gum oradhesive, and the opposite end of the casing is formed with a pair ofcompartments 66 and 67, the bottom of the compartment 66 communicatingwith the reservoir 65 by the passage 68, the supplementary compartment67 being separated from the main compartment 66 by a partition 69 butcommunicating with the compartment 66 at the top by the passage 70 andat the bottom by a passage 71, and the top of the supplementarycompartment 67 communicating with the reservoir 65 by the passage 72. Apaste roller 73 is mounted on a shaft 74; and revolves with its lowerportion immersed in the paste or gum contained in the compartment 66,this roller revolving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig.17, that is to say,the lower portion of the roller moves in a directiontoward the supplementary compartment 67. The paste roller 73 serves tosupply paste to a roller 75, the latter applying the paste or gum to thestamps. In order to enable the paste or gum to be applied throughout thelength of the stamp and particularly to the end engaged by the gripper,the roller 75 is grooved circumferentially to provide a space wherebythe lower jaw 50 of the gripper maypass this roller in order to grip andwithdraw the stamp, the roller 75 being thus formed with a pair ofcircumferential gum-applying flanges 76 which apply lines of gum orpaste to the stamp adjacent to the longitudinal edges thereof.

The roller 73 which supplies the gum or paste to the roller 75 is corresondingly formed. These rollers 73 and 5 are so placed that theirperipheries are nearly in contact and they are revolved in reversedirections and preferably at the same peripheral speed whereby the gumwill be transferred uniformly from-the lower roller 73 to the upperroller 75. Such movement of the rollers is accomplishedkthrough thegears 77 and 78 fixed to the shafts of the respective rollers 73 and 75,and motion is imparted to the gum or paste-applying device from asprocket wheel 79, a chain 80 and sprocket wheel 81, the latter beingconnected to revolve with a gear 82 which latter cooperates with thegear 77. The sprocket wheel 79, as well as the cams 38 and 48, issleeved on the shaft 54: and, is connected to a sprocket wheel 83, thelatter receiving continuous motion by a chain 84 driven by a sprocketwheel 85, the latter being fixed on the main shaft 86. The shaft 54:which reciprocates the gripper is rotated alternately in-reversedirections by a vertically movable rack 87 which cotiperates with apinion 88 fixed on the shaft 54, a guide 89 being provided to maintainthe rack in cotiperative relation with the pinion, and the rack isconnected to an actuating rod 90, the latter being forked at its lowerend, as at 91, to straddlethe shaft 86 and is provided with a roller orprojection 92 coiiperative with a cam groove 93 formed in a cam 94, thelatter being fixed on the main shaft 86.

The rollers 73 and 75 of the gumming device are revolved continuously bythe driving mechanism just described in the directions indicatedrespectively by the arrows, the roller 75 revolving in the direction inwhich the stamp is fed from the magazine and thereby applying two linesof paste or gum to the longitudinal edges of the stamp, and the lowerroller 73 constantly maintains a proper supply of gum or paste on theperiphery of the roller 7 5. The continuous rotation of the lower roller73 in the direction indicated by the arrow causes a circulating movementof the liquid or semi-liquid gum or paste, causing the same to flow fromthe compartment 66, through the upper passage 70 into the supplementarycompartment 67., and from the bottom of the latter through the lowerpassage 71 back into the compartment 66, while the level of the paste inthe compartment 66 is maintained constantby permitting surplus gum oraste to overflow from the compartment 61, through the passage 72 backinto the reservoir 65, and a constant supply of gum or paste ismaintained in the compartment 66 by the inflow of gum or paste from thereservoir 65 through the passage 68. A scraper 95 is preferablyprovidedto remove gum or paste from the sides of the flanges of the lower roller73, this scraper embodying a plate which is secured to the top of thecompartment 67 serving as a cover therefor, and the plate is shaped toadmit the peripheral flanges of the lower roller 7 3. This scraper willalso strip any broken stamp from the lower roller 73.

In order to insure the proper delivery of the stamps to the packages, aguide is provided through which each stamp is drawn by the gripper, andthis guide is tiltable downwardly and forwardly toward the package asthe stamp approaches the limit present instanceis located between thegumming device and the package holder, it comprising an arm 96 which hasa head 97 at its upper end which is formed with a central groove 98 topermit the passage of the gripper therethrough, and the head at oppositesides of the groove 98 is formed with a pair of longitudinally curvedbeveled edges 99 which engage the gummed side of the stamp with a.minimum surface in contact. A pair of guards 100 are provided whichoverlie the beveled edges 99, the stampv passing beof its feedingmovement. The guide in the I the guide.

v the slide 112 is in its elevate tween the guards and said edgeswhereby the stamp is maintained in engagement with i The arm 96 is fixedat its lower end to a rock shaft 101, the latter being mounted in abearing 102 formed on a bracket 103, the latter being bolted orotherwise secured to a relatively fixed part of the machine. A spring 101 is provided which has a normal tendency to hold the arm 96 in normalupright position, as shown in Fig. 20, the movement of the guide in thisdirection being limited by aprojection 105 formed on thebearing 102 anda pin 106 carried by an arm 107, the latter being fixed to the oppositeend of the shaft 101. The mm 107 provides means for tilting the guidetoward the right in Fig. 20 or into the position shown in Fig. 9, thereciprocatory gripper actuating bar 51 being,., provided with a pin orprojection 108 which is'adapted to strike against the arm 107 as thegripper approaches the limit of its feeding movement whereby the guideis tilted forwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 9, although theguideduring the major portion of "the feeding of the stamp occupies anupright position.

In feeding the stamps to the tops of the packages they are broughtbeneath a stampapplying device. This stamp-applying device in thepresent instance comprises a platen 109 which is carried by a verticallymovable stem 110 and conforms substan-- daily in size and shape to thatof the top of the package. A pair of wipers 111 are ar ranged to descendat the ends of the platen 109 for the purpose of applying the ends ofthe gummed stamp to the sides of the package. These wipers are-carriedby a verti cally movable slide 112 which is guided to reciprocate in aguide 113. The stem 110 of the platen 109 extends loosely through theslide 112 and issupported therein bya shoulder or collar 114 at itsupper end. When position the shoulder. or collar 114 will support theplaten 109 also in elevated position, as shown in Fig. 9. When, however,a stamp has been fed across the top of the package and,the slide 112 islowered, the first part of the descending movement of the slide willbring the platen 109 down upon the intermediateportion of the stampwhich extends across the top of the package, and the further descent ofthe slide 112 will cause the wipers 111 to pass'the ends of the'platen109 and to bend the'ends of the stamp into engagement with] the sidesofthe package, this further descent of the slide occurring while theplaten 10 9 remains at rest upon the top of the package and beingpermitted by the loose fit of the stem 110 of the platen theslide 112.Upon the return or elevating stroke of the slide 112, the platen 109 israised by the final movement of the slide which brings the upper endthereof into the shoulder or collar 114. The slide 112 may bereciprocated at appropriate intervals by any suitable means. In theconstruction shown, a lever115 is provided, one end of which isoperatively connected to the slide, its intermediate portion is, pivotedat 116, and a link 117 is operatively connected to its opposite end, thelower end of this linkbeing divided to form a fork 118- which straddlesthe shaft 86 and carries a roller or projection 119 which follows anappropriately formed groove 120 formed in a earn 121-, the latter beingfixed on the shaft 86. j

A stamp is applied by the mechanism just described to each package as itis brought into a position in line with the stamp-feedingdevice andbeneath the stamp-applying device. In order to insure firm contact ofthe stamps with the packages, means is shown for brushing the ends ofthe gummed stamps 'ter the. latter have been advanced from thestamp-applying position. The ,mechanism for accomplishing this is shownin Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in Figs. '10-16 inclusive. It comprises aseries of pairs of revoluble brushes 122 which are arranged at oppositesid'esof the path of movement of the packages and are spaced axially adistance corresponding to'the spacing of the package holders on theconveyer chain. As shown, these brushes are mounted on shafts 123 and124, these shafts being mounted in bearings 125 and 126 and areconnected to revolve in engagement with,

against the sides of the packages afends of the shafts and theintermediate connecting gears 129 and 130, the brushes re .volving indirections to brush the ends of the gummed stamps downwardly against thesides'of the packages. In order to permit advance movement of thepackages without interference between 'the. brushes and the ends of thestamps on the packages, the bristles of the brushes are omitted at oneside thereof and such sides of the brushes occupy positions opposite tothe packages when advancing movement of the latter occurs. Motion istervals to the brushes. from the driving shaft 131 which is driven by asprocket wheel 132, the shaft 131 having a sprocket wheel 133 thereonwhich is connected ,by a chain 134 to a sprocket wheel 135 on a, shaft136, the

latter being journaled in the bearing 126 and is provided with a gear137 which cotiperates with the gear 127 on the brush Shaft 123. Pl

During the brushing of the stamp ends against the packagesv it ispreferable to apply pressure to the intermediate portions of the stampswhich extend across the tops the communicated at appropriate in-- of thepackages, thereby preventing displacement of the stamps due to thebrushing action. In the present instance a series of platens 138 areprovided which are spaced advancing movements thereof one of the brushshafts, the brush shaft 124 in the present instance, is provided with acam 141 which cotiperates with a roller or projection 142 on one of theplaten supporting a'rms 139 whereby all the platens connected to therock'shaft 140 will be depressed upon the tops of the stamped packagesduring the operation of the brushes, and when such operation has beencompleted the cam141 will raise the platens preparatory to the nextadvancing movement of the packages.

In order to prevent displacement. of the ends of the stamps relativelyto the packages as the latter are transferred from the position wherethey receive the stamps to the first position where the brushes actthereon, a pair of arms 143 are provided which are mounted at theirlower ends on a common rock shaft 144 supported in a bearing 145, thesearms straddling the conveyer chain and the package holders. thereon, andtheir upper ends occupying positions opposite to the ends of the stamp.These arms are movable with each package as the same is transferred fromthe stamp-applying position to the first position where the ends of thestamp are subjected to the brushing action. In

order to rock the arms 143 so that their upper ends will move in unisonwith the packages, a cam 146 of appropriate form is provided whichcoeperates with a roller or' projection 147 on one of the arms 143. Thecam 146 is mounted on a shaft 148 j ournaled in the bearing 125, thisshaft being rotated in predetermined relation to the the sprocket wheels149 and 150 on the shafts 148 and 124 respectively, and by a connectingchain 151. A spring 152 operates to hold the roller 147 in cooperativerelation with the cam 146 and to cause the arms-.143 to move with thepackage as the latter is transferred from the stamp-apply-.

ing position to the position where it is first subjected to the brushingaction. The main .shaft 131 is operatively connected to the cam shaft 86by the gears 153 and 154 secured to" the respective shafts.

After the stamps have been applied and afiixed the packages aredischarged from the package holders as each package holder approachesthe under side of the sprocket wheels 5, as will appearfrom brushes byFig. 1. In 1' order to insure permanent adhesion of the stamps to thepackages, means is preferably provided for subjecting the ends of thestamps to a further brushing action and to the action of heat which willaccelerate the drying of the gum on the stamps. Figs, 4, 5 and 6 show anapparatus for accomplishing these results. As shown, it comprises asuitable base or support 155 and an upwardly inclined table 156 on thetop thereof. The table 156 provides a runway along which the stampedpackages are advancedendwise and in arow. The advancing of the packagesis accomplished in the construction shown by a traveling conveyer 157which passes over pulleys or sprockets 158 and 159 and is provided withprojections 160 which are adapted to come against the bottoms of therespective packages and thereby push them longitudinally up and alongthe table 156. The packages are deposited at appropriate intervals uponthe table 156 from the package holders previously described and at themoment when the package holders approach the under side of the sprocketwheels 5, the package holders opening at this moment to so discharge thepackages. It will be understood that the packages are deposited from thepackage holders onto the table 156 with their upper ends in ad Vance,the projections 160 engaging the bottoms of the packages. To preventdisplacement of the packages while traveling along the table 156, guiderails 161 are preferably provided which extend longitudinally of thetable 156 and above the line of travel of the packages, these railsbeing supported by cross-bars 162 the ends of which rest in brackets 163fixed to the table' 156. The ends of the stamps on the packages arefirst subjected to the action of a pair of brushes provided on the tablebeyond the heaters whereby the stamp ends will be subjected to a furtherbrushing action a f-ter leaving the heaters.

The packages are advanced 'step-by-step along the table 156 and inproperly timed relation tothe operation of the stamp-applyin andafiixing mechanisms. To accomplish'this the conveyer'157 is driven fromthe shaft 131 by the'bevel gear 167 on said shaft, the bevel gear 168 ona countershaft 169, and'by sprocket wheels 17 0 and 171 on tion to feedthe .walls operative wearer the shaft 169 and the shaft 172respectively, and the connecting chain 173.

After the stamps have been permanently aflixed to the packages thelatter are stacked in convenient form for packing in boxes or cases. Thestacking mechanism is shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. It comprises a base orstand 17 1 which supports a trough 175, an endless belt 176 having itsupper stretch arranged to travel longitudinally along the trough in thedirection indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7, and the belt beingsupported by the pulleys 177 and 178. The stamped packages are deliveredto the trough from the upper end of the table 156 and means is providedfor stacking the packages in inclined overlapping relation. In theconstruction shown, pairs of rollers 179 and 180 are mounted insuperposed relation and on parallel shafts 181 and 182 respectively,these rollers having their peripheries covered with suitable material toprovide the necessary friction-a1 engagement between the rollers and thepackages, and they are spaced apart a distance to'accommodate thepackages between them. The space between. the rollers is in a positionto receive the packages as the latter pass over the upper end of thetable 156, and in the present instance the lower rollers 180 arerevolved in a direcpackages through such space, the upper rollers 179revolving idly. In order to stack the packages in overlapping inclinedposition, as shown in Fig. 7, the rollers 180 are revolved at aperipheral speed greater than the speed of movement of the belt 176. Inthe present instance the belt 176 and the rollers 180 are driven at theproper relative speeds by a chain 183 which cooperates with a shaft 185of the sprocket wheel 159, and'this chain cooperates with a sprocketwheel 186 on the shaft 182 sprocket wheel 187 on the shaft 188 of theroller 177. The packages may be conveniently removed from the trough 175by hand or otherwise for packing'in cases or boxes.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine for affixing stamps across the topsof packages, the

combination with a stamp applying device, of a conveyer carrying aplurality of holders for successivelX feeding the packages vthereto,each holder beingopen at-the top and at opposite of the package, theholders having opposed to clamp the packages there- 1n, and meansoperative below the top and through the open sides of each holder to Ito the package therein. 2.

n a machine for aflixing-stainps' across the tops of compressiblepackages, the combinatlon of 'a conveyor carrying a plurality of packageholders, eachpholder having opsprocket whee] 184 on the of the rollers186 and a.

moving sides to expose the corresponding sides- I the combination with aposed sides operative to compress the package laterally and open at thetop and sides to expose the top and opposite sides of the pac agetherein, a stamp feeding device operative successively on the packagesat a predetermined point in the travel of the conveyer, a platenoperative through the open top of the holder to compress theintermediate portionof the stamp against the top of the package, and aplurality of stamp afiixing devices operative below the-tops and throughthe open sides of the holders and upon the exposed sides of the packageswhile the latter are compressed in the holders.

3. In a machine for afiixing stamps across the tops of packages, thecombination of means for applying a stamp across the top of a packagewith the ends of the stamp in position to engage opposite sides thereof,and brushes having means for revolving them in reverse directions onaxes located at opposite sides of the package and presentlng peripheriesoperative to brush the stamp ends in a direction the package downwardlyrespective sides thereof.

4-. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a packageholder, of means for feeding a stamp horizontally across the top of apackage therein, a guide for supporting the stamp during such feed ingoperation and movable downwardly and toward the package, and means forapplying the stamp to the package.

5. In a machine the combination with a device for feeding stampsembodying a reciprocatory gripper, of a device for applying gum to saidstamps comprising a gum-applying roller having circumferential flangesto apply the gum to the stamps and an intervening circumferential grooveto accommodate said gripper, and a guide for the stamphaving means forit toward the receptacle.

6. In a machine .of the class described,

from the top of and against the the combination of a conveyer foradvanc-j ing packages, means for applying stamps across the tops. of thepackages, and revoluble brushes presenting opposed peripheries atopposite sides of the path of movement of the packages and having meansfor revolving them to cause brushing action of the peripheries thereofupon the ends of the stamps to afiix the same to the sides of therespective packages.

In a machine of the class described,

conveyer for ad'- vancing packages, stamps to the packages with theends'of the stamps arranged td engage the sides of the packages, ofrevoluble brushes presenting opposed peripheries at opposite sides ofthe path of'movement of the packages and opof the class described,

and means for applying erative upon the ends of the stamps thereon, anda pair of heaters beyond said brushes and operative to dry the ends ofthe stamps on the packages.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means foradvancing packages, and means for applying stamps to the packages, ofbrushes at opposite sides of the path of movement of the packages andoperative upon the ends of the stamps thereon, a pair of heatersarranged on the table beyond said brushes and operative to dry the endsof the stamps'on the packages, and additional brushes located beyond theheaters and operative on the ends of the stamps on the packages afterthe same have passed the heaters.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means foradvancing an oblong package in upright position, means for applying astamp longitudinally across the narrow top of the package With the endsof the stamp arranged to engage the narrow sides of the package,revoluble brushes having opposed peripheries arranged at opposite sidesof the path of movement of the packages, and means for revolving thebrushes to cause the peripheries thereof to bend the ends of the stampdownwardly and against the narrow sides of the package.

10. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of means for advancing a package in upright position,means for applying a stamp across the top of the package with the endsof the stamp arranged to engage the sides thereof, and a pair ofrevoluble brushes presenting opposed peripheries and having means forrevolving 'them in opposite directions to cause their peripheries tobrush the ends of the stamp downwardly and against the sides of thepackage. 11. In a machine of the class described, the combination ofpackage advancing means, means for applying a stamp across the top withits ends arranged to engage the sides of a package therein, a platenoperative to press upon that part of the stamp extending across the topof the package, and brushes operative to brush the ends of the stampdownwardly against the sides of the package.

12. In a machine of the class described,the combination of anintermittently movable conveyer carrying a plurality of package holders,means for applying stamps, successively across the tops of the packageswith the ends-of the stamps engaging the sides of the packages, and aserles of pairs of revoluble brushes operative upon the ends of thestamps on a plurality of the packages to afiix the same thereto.

a machine of the class described, the

combination of an intermittently movable conveyer carrying a pluralityof package ing clearance spaces at one side, and means for revolving thebrushes intermittently to present the clearance spaces thereof towardthe packages during each advancing movement of the latter.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of anintermittently movable conveyer carrying a plurality of package holders,means for successively applying stamps across the tops of the packageswith the ends of the stamps engaging the sides of the packages, a seriesof platens operative to press upon the tops ofthe packages and theportions of the stamps thereon between the periods of movement of theconveyer and to disengage therefrom during the movements of theconveyer, and means operative to afiix the ends of the stamps to thepackages between the periods of movement of the conveyer.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a travelingconveyer carrying a package holder, means for feeding a stamp to the topof a package and engaging the ends of the stamp with the sides of thepackage, means operative after the package has been advanced by theconveyer to afiix the ends of the stamp to the sides of the package, andarms movable with the package as the latter is advanced to the aflixingmeans and operative to retain the ends of.

the stamp in operative relation to the sides of the package.

16. In a machineof the class described,-the combination of means foradvancing a package, means for applying a stamp across the top of thepackage with the ends of the stamp engaging the sides of the package,

18. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for-feeding "a stamp longitudinally across thenarrow elongated top of a package having substantially parallel oppositesides, a platen to bear on the top of the package and the intermediateportion my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witof the stamp thereon,and revoluble brushes nesses. presenting opposed peripheries to act onthe LOUIS FISCHER. ends of the stamp to bend the same againstWVitnesses: 5 said opposite sides of the package. G. J. FEASLER, Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set A. L. POWERS.

